The Star Cactus
A Happy Family and Sparkling Eyes
Once upon a time, in the wonderful land of Mexico, there lived a happy couple who had two children: Rosa and Ana Marie.
— Here, Mom! I brought you some fruit. — Wait, that one looks a little spoiled. — Hmm? Where? I don't see it. — Oh, yes, it is spoiled! Good job, Ana Marie! — Wow! How did you see that? I guess your sparkling eyes have powers! Ha ha ha!
Indeed, Ana Marie's eyes were special, for they were unusually bright.
— Ana's eyes are certainly magical. They sparkle like tiny diamonds. — It's as if her eyes hold the entire galaxy with all its stars. My love, how about we take the girls to see the stars tomorrow? — Look at the stars? Yes, that sounds like a good idea. — Let's go tomorrow! I'll go tell the girls.
The Journey to the Stars and the Spirit's Warning
So, the next day, the four of them got in the car and left the village, far away, all the way to the rocky plateau.
— It's good to be away from the lights, isn't it? — Stars, stars! We'll see all the beautiful stars! — Ha ha ha! But you, Marie, aren't you excited? — I'm very excited, Mom!
Finally, when they arrived, it was already dark outside.
— Wow! So many beautiful stars! Aren't they? — They are beautiful!
Ana Marie watched them carefully. To her, it seemed she could feel the twinkling stars.
— Marie, come here! Ha ha ha! — Ha ha ha! Wait!
They look very happy.
Dunes. A sandstorm. Oh! The storm stopped, and a lady dressed in a robe as black as night appeared before them.
— Who are you? — I am the spirit of the ages. I watch over these deserts and have seen all kinds of people throughout this time. — What do you want from us? — Your daughter carries the sparkle of the stars in her eyes and soul. Be careful, for if she ever looks at the stars in childhood, she will only encounter misfortune. — But, but, do you mean she must stop looking at the stars? — I have read the stars and seen the signs. If you want your daughter to live a happy life, you must never let her look at the stars again. Remember. Remember.
A Painful Promise
The desert spirit disappeared, and after a while, the girls came running back happily. The parents sadly decided to follow the spirit's advice.
However, when they arrived home, they told Ana Marie never to look at the stars again.
— What? But what is it? — We cannot tell you what will happen if you look at them. Please, listen to your parents. You love us, don't you? — But, but... Yes, I love you both. Alright. I'll do as you say. — What a good girl! Don't worry, there are so many other beautiful things to see.
The Prince of Stars and Queen Luna's Prohibition
Meanwhile, on the Moon, lived the beautiful Queen Luna. She had five sons who were to take care of their stars.
One of the princes was named Lucius and had the brightest and most loving heart. The star he lived on was so well cared for that it shone brighter than all the others.
— Lucius, what are you doing here? — Mother, look! My star shines so brightly that everyone will admire it! — Well, it certainly looks very beautiful, my son! — Lucius? — Yes? Mother, will I be able to play with people one day? — My dear, we must not meddle with humans. They are different from us. You know, if you ever leave here, something terrible will happen. — What? — I cannot tell you. But promise me you will never leave here. Okay?
Lucius didn't want to hurt his mother's feelings. So he sadly promised.
A Forbidden Gaze and A Magic Dream
Over the years, Ana Marie grew up without seeing the stars.
— The stars were so beautiful that day, but my eyes are almost the same. I'll look at the stars in the mirror. Ha ha ha! — How stupid that is! It's silly not to let you look at the stars anymore! — It's nothing, Rosa. I promised my parents, so calm down, okay? — Hmm! Mom and Dad are coming back in a few days. Shall we make them some nopal soup? — But we don't have any left. I'll go gather some more. You stay here and take care of the house.
And so, she left for the Chihuahua desert. She walked a long way and finally reached an area where prickly pear cactus grew in abundance.
— Oh! With this, I can make a good stew! If I gather enough. Oh!
The sand dune appeared out of nowhere and caught her by surprise. Her eyes opened and followed the path made by the dune.
— Wow! The stars are so... Oh! No, I'm not allowed!
But as she looked, she saw the millions and millions of twinkling stars in the distance in the dark sky.
— Oh! That one is the brightest and most beautiful of all!
Her words traveled and reached Lucius's ears. Perhaps it happened that way because of his special heart, which helped him hear her words. He leaned down and looked towards the earth.
— Who is admiring my star? Oh! Who is she?
He watched Ana Marie as she gathered cacti. After a while, she went to sleep.
— How can I get her attention? Hmm. Stardust. I will speak to her through her dream.
So he blew some stardust towards her on Earth.
— Oh! Where am I? — Up, among the stars. Hello! My name is Lucius, and I am the prince of the stars. I heard you praising my star earlier. — It's yours? It's very beautiful! My name is Ana Marie.
Lucius showed her around, and she was fascinated by everything on the star.
— Here, to remember me by.
When the sun began to rise, the dream ended, and Ana Marie woke up.
— He's real! Ah, Lucius!
A Forbidden Love and A Magical Transformation
So, after that, days passed as usual for Ana Marie, but during the nights, her connection with Lucius grew stronger with each meeting between the two. Her parents soon noticed the change.
— What happened that made you so happy?
Hesitantly, Ana Marie told them everything. Her parents were horrified.
— Marie! We just told you not to look at the stars! — But Father, Lucius is...
Her parents didn't listen to anything she said. They left, leaving her very sad.
— Ana, did you really meet the prince of the stars? — Then I think you should follow your heart!
Ana Marie looked at her sister and, with tears in her eyes, left the house.
Up on Lucius's star, Queen Luna appeared and found him distracted.
— Lucius! Have you tidied your star? Lucius! — Ah, Mother, I was thinking about Ana Marie. Oh! — Who?
Lucius suddenly realized what he had said. He couldn't go back now, so he told his mother everything. She was horrified.
— Lucius, how could you? You must stop talking to this girl, or you will both be in very big trouble! — But, Mother, I don't think... — It doesn't matter what you think, Lucius! What matters is what I know! Forgive me, my dear, but you must not meddle with humans! — Yes, Mother, I will, I will tidy the star.
Queen Luna left, leaving Prince Lucius very sad. He kept his word and no longer sent stardust to Ana Marie.
Ana Marie traveled far and reached the great plains of Rio.
— Now I will be able to reach him from under the clear and twinkling sky.
But, as the nights passed, no matter how much she tried, she no longer met Prince Lucius in her dreams.
— I will wait for you, Lucius! I know you can hear me! Please, Lucius! — No, I'm not allowed! I shouldn't do it! — Ana! — Oh! Who? Who are you?
The spirit of the sand told her everything that had happened when she met Ana Marie's parents.
— It's not fair! I will stay here until Lucius talks to me again!
The spirit saw the sparkle in the girl's eyes and realized she was determined.
— If you continue like this as a human, you won't live very long. I will transform you.
The spirit blew some magic sand over Ana, and she soon transformed into a thorny cactus.
— Lucius! Lucius!
Her words reached Lucius's ears, and he leaned down to see what was happening. But, unfortunately, he leaned while standing on a broken piece of his star and fell.
— Aaa!
The magic of the stars and the Moon disappeared. And, since he was far away, he turned into stardust and fell over Ana Marie, who was now a cactus.
The magic from the silver stardust transformed the cactus into a plant with purple flowers. Finally, the two were together.
Queen Luna felt the sudden disappearance of her son.
— Lucius! Oh, no!
Queen Luna descended to Earth and stood beside the plant.
— Oh, my son! I knew this would happen. But I guess I couldn't stop you.
And so, Queen Luna used her magic and through her stardust spread the story of Ana Marie, the one with the star eyes, and the prince of the stars, Lucius, throughout the world. Thus, everyone came to know the plant known as Cenizo, or Purple Sage, or Ashy Shrub.
This plant was born from a burning love, with the help of the magic of the stars.
